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Altounian

Altounian, Elizabeth
Professor Vana DerOhanessian
English 114A
26 November 2014
Stereotypes in Media
Americans in todays society, specifically in media, are very quick to judge. Not only do
they quickly jump to assumptions concerning peoples race, but they also associate every other
individual with similar characteristics to them as well. Mainstream cultures are the ones who put
stereotypes in our societies mind, which later leads them to treat people of non-American decent
as outcasts. But because Americans are so ignorant, they do not realize that even though others
may be of different decent we are all considered equal and American. The reason why
Americans potentially do not understand the cultural differences is the reason why separation is
created in society, which leads to the labeling of others as outcasts. Cultural identity is what
makes America, America. Americans perceive people of other decent as outcasts by belittling
them in media, portraying them in a negative way, when they dont understand they are just as
much of American decent as native Americans are despite their roots.
Racial identities such as our looks define who we are in eyes of the general public
because of the large impact media reflects onto society. The way media portrays us molds our
societies outlook that everyone part of a certain racial group is all the same. Society is very
inconsiderate of other races and their cultures simply because they do not understand cultural
differences, It is human nature to classify people into different groups, which is one way of
making a complex world simpler (Chang, Kleiner). There is no question that is it easier to
identify people if they are divided up into categories, but that doesnt mean it is the ethically

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correct way to identify people. Media plays such a significant role in forming societys views on
identifying one another, Humans can be divided according to their physical characteristics, for
example colour of skin, colour and type of hair, shape of eyes and nose (Chang, Kleiner).
Every human being has those classified features and if they vary from one another in a drastic or
insignificant way it should not qualify them for a specific racial group in society. Some might
say this form of identification is merely observation and some might say it is racist. Some people
in society might take offense towards this classification of race, I gravitated toward the freak,
the outsider, the antagonist, the one who did not belong in the protagonists vision, not because I
had low self-esteem but because conditions couldnt have allowed for normal self-esteem
(Khakpour 526). The conditions mentioned refers to society not allowing people to feel
comfortable in their own skin, making it seem as if they are ranked below others in society.
Feeling as if they do not belong is not why America was created; America is a melting pot of
many races and cultures, a place where we can all co-exist.
The impact that media has on racial issues impressions the way society, or a certain group
of people, act toward another group of people. Our generation today has been so caught up in
what media has to say about people and the way we act that it has been a guide for our actions.
Having such a powerful impact, Many of the photographs seen in contemporary mass media
present stereotypical images of contemporary culture rather than truthful representation of the
diversity of groups and individuals in society (Brennen). Many images found in media today
have been tampered with using photo shop to alter the size and shape of features of celebrities
and middle or lower class people as well. Not only for those reasons but also to lighten the skin
tone of people and etcetera. People are placed under categories in which they feel they do not
belong, or feel uncomfortable with the label they are given. Society has no right to say who is

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who, that is up to the individuals themselves to decide. Everyone holds their own beliefs and
views on themselves and feel differently about certain topics, Im tired of being labeled. Im an
American. Im not African-American; Im an American. I mean I dont even know where my
roots go to, I dont know how far back they go I dont know what country in Africa Im from,
but I do know my roots are in Louisiana. Im an American. And thats a colorless person
(Raven-Symon). Raven, being categorized as an African-American, has valid reasoning when
she states how can she be considered African-American if she cant even trace back her roots
back to Africa. She is merely put under such category because of the color of her skin. Raven
being able to trace her roots back to Louisiana leads her to classify herself as colorless because
Louisiana is in fact a state in America, not Africa. Being in America, media should not
participate in categorizing people in society because it is a country with so many minorities.
Historically non-Americans have always been outcastes in the eyes of society. The 9/11
incidents in New York City regarding the twin tower crashes made middle-easterners terrorists in
the eyes of everyone. Media, such as news coverage, had such a powerful role in shaping the
incident in the minds of society for the event that took place, There were significant differences
in the impact 9/11 and associated media coverage has on issues of identity for our non-Muslim
and Muslim participants (Ewart, Rane). Media continued to portray the entire Muslim race as
terroristic, labeling another stereotype to the deeply shared religion. The whole Muslim
community was being associated with the terrorist attack, which led media and society to
associate them all as terrorists. Just because one person of a categorized group arose a topic in
media shouldnt influence society that the whole group is like that as well. The planned terrorist
attack was not every Muslim, but media grouped them as one kind and associated them with this
act, inferring their terroristic ways. Muslims became so looked down upon after this accident

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that it set a new world order for America, The destruction of these towers has had a radical
impact on the American psyche, and that it is against the backdrop of the now absent twin towers
that a new sense of American national identity seems to have been forged (Leach). Although
Leach does not necessarily mention the religion being in tact with the acts, it is a clear given that
his audience will correlate the two. When the author states the phrase radical impact, it not
only proves the idea of societal influence, but it also puts emphasis on the significance of these
impressions. All in all, outcasts are determined through skin color, race, religious views, moral
views, and individual beliefs as well, leading to the constant labeling of people throughout
America.
Given that stereotypes are a debatable topic, many would not agree with these points due
to the fact that they believe personal labeling is harmless, or the idea that freedom of speech
protects their every word. Many do not realize, but the first amendment does come with its
limitations, therefore portraying those who use it as their shield as ignorant. Also, people may
believe that the separation between ethnicities and beliefs help create a barrier between those
who are alike and those who are not. But because dissimilarity exists within a country that holds
many different types of people, separation labeling affects people harshly and victimizes them
through stereotypically punitive treatment. Through these assumptions, the topic is being led
through a spectrum that not only contains stereotype, but the mutilation of justice and morality as
well.
All in all, racial stereotyping is a topic America should not be associated with. So many
races and cultures co-exist in America it is to be used as a model for other countries that many
people of different decent can matter of fact co-exist. Ranking people in a system in society is
not right, just how creating assumptions about one race off the actions of one individual is not

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correct. Media can have mercy on other races and accept them just like how they do with
Caucasian Americans. America is so diverse, it could be used in Americas favor if everyone
were to stop with stereotypes and equally co-exist.

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Works Cited
Ewart, J., & Rane, H. (2013). Talking about 9/11: The influence of media images on Australian
Muslims and non-Muslims recollections of 9/11. Australian Journal of
Communication, 40(1), 137-151. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/1446431659?accountid=7285
Chang, S., & Kleiner, B. H. (2003). Common racial stereotypes. Equal Opportunities
International, 22(3), 1-9. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/199667110?accountid=7285
Brennen, B. (2004). Images that injure: Pictorial stereotypes in the media. Journalism and Mass
Communication Quarterly,81(1), 203-204. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/216935575?accountid=7285
Neil Leach. 9/11. Diacritics, Vol. 33, No. 3/4, New Coordinates: Spatial Mappings, National
Trajectories (Autumn - Winter, 2003), pp. 75-92
Khakpour, Porochista. "Reality TV Goes Where Football Meets the Hijab." Editorial. n.d.: n.
page. The New York Times. 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
Symon, Raven. "Raven-Symon: Don't Label Me 'Gay' Or 'African-American'" Interview by
Oprah. Own. Huffington Post, 5 Oct. 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/05/raven-symone-african-american-gaylabels_n_5929414.html>.

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